‘Q’ branch hunt for Maoist from Chennai intensifies

While Manivasakam, Padma and Velmurugan were involved in arms training at Uthangarai, Dhasarathan’s name figured for the first time after he put up posters against N Chandrababu Naidu, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, on Anna Salai in Chennai. 

Though his accomplices were caught then, he managed to escape and has been missing since. 

According to police sources, Dhasarathan was the mastermind behind the offensive posters against Naidu on Anna Salai. 

“The posters claimed Naidu was an imperialist agent whose government was against Maoists and was carrying out fake encounters. Three men, who were pasting posters, were caught by the police then. We arrested Dhasarathan’s younger brother Govardhan and accomplices Chandrashekar and Shekar. The trio was taken into custody and after interrogating we came to know that Dhasarathan who was the mastermind, was doing commerce degree in Pachaiyappa’s College. But, the men were released as the case was withdrawn based on the advice of the government”, sources said. “Dhasarathan was last spotted on two places, Anna Salai and Uthukottai. He is a member of the banned Maoist party,” sources added. 

During his college days in the city, Dhasarathan lived with his siblings in Kolathur. His sister was a student of the Hindu College at Pattabiram. His father Dayalan and younger brother Govardhan were into agriculture in Uthukottai. 

Except for an aunt, who lives in Kolathur, his family has returned to Uthukottai, and they claim they were not in touch with Dhasarathan. 

Sources said, “His family members say they haven’t been in touch with Dhasarathan. We know he is an active Maoist leader in the Attapadi tri-junction for the past 15 years and had assumed a new identity. He should be 35 years now”. 

The police have photographs of Dhasarthan when he was in his early 20s. 

“Dhasarathan will definitely not look like how he is in the photograph with us. He might have changed his appearance and also his identity. Cops in plain clothes visited his native place several times in the past, but his family is tight-lipped about his whereabouts”, the source added.